Three Western New Yorkers Appointed to UB Council

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Gov. George Pataki has appointed three Western New Yorkers to vacancies on the University at Buffalo Council.

Joining the university's local governing council are Patricia K. Lipke, Sheila H. Battle and Edmond J. Gicewicz, M.D.

UB President William R. Greiner noted that the UB Council has a long tradition of dedicated service by community members who care deeply about the university and its future.

"We are proud that the governor has appointed three such distinguished community representatives as Mrs. Lipke, Mrs. Battle and Dr. Gicewicz to the council, and we look forward to working with them," he said.

A resident of Hamburg, Patricia K. Lipke will serve a seven-year term. She succeeds John Walsh, whose term expired on June 30.

Former vice president of public relations for Gibraltar Steel Corp., which was founded by her late husband, Ken Lipke, Patricia Lipke has been active in the community for many years.

She is a patron of the arts, serving as chair of the 1996 annual fund-rising gala for Shea's Buffalo Theatre, a member of the fund-raising committee for the "Boo Bash" in support of the Buffalo Museum of Science and a member of the Women's Committee of the Buffalo Philharmonic. She also holds membership in the Albright-Knox Art Gallery and Studio Arena Theatre.

In addition, Lipke has been involved in the President's Council at Villa Maria and Canisius colleges, and has served on the board of the American Lung Association.

Sheila H. Battle, a resident of North Buffalo, will serve a seven-year term. She succeeds David Campbell, who resigned before the end of his term, which expired June 30.

A physical therapist with the Visiting Nurses Association of Western New York, she also has worked as a physical therapist at Erie County Medical Center and as coordinator of the Orthopedic Outpatient Department at The Buffalo General Hospital.

She is a member of the Home School Board of the Early Childhood Center, School 54, and is active in the Roswell Alliance, The Junior League of Buffalo and the Greater Buffalo Chapter of the American Red Cross.

Battle earned a bachelor's degree from Ithaca College.

A Getzville resident, Edmond J. Gicewicz will serve through June 30, 1998, filling the unexpired term of former council Chair Philip B. Wels, who resigned.

Gicewicz earned two degrees from UB -- a bachelor's degree in 1952 and a medical degree in 1956.

While pursuing his undergraduate degree, Gicewicz served as captain of the varsity football, basketball and baseball teams, and was named a Little All-American in football. He is a member of the UB Athletic Hall of Fame.

Gicewicz has held appointments as an assistant professor of clinical surgery and an assistant professor of clinical orthopedics in the UB School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, and served as the founder and first medical director of the university's Sports Medicine Institute.

He has been the medical director and physician-in-attendance for a variety of amateur athletic competitions, including the World University Games. He is a past president of the Williamsville School District Board of Education.